Mohammad Reza Pourshafie

Oxidative stress plays a key role in colitis, a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, particularly when associated with a high-fat diet (HFD). Probiotics are known to alleviate inflammation through multiple mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a potential probiotic mixture with high antioxidant activity in attenuating colitis in mice fed either a normal diet (ND) or an HFD, with a focus on oxidative stress–related pathways. Eighty-eight Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains isolated from healthy human faeces and milk were screened for antioxidant capacity. The six most active strains were selected to formulate a probiotic cocktail. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into ND and HFD groups, each receiving dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) alone or combined with the probiotic cocktail. Disease indices, histopathology, and the expression of genes related to NF-kB and Nrf2 signalling, as well as oxidative and inflammatory markers, were assessed. Mice treated with the probiotic cocktail showed significant attenuation of DSS-induced colitis, evidenced by lower Disease Activity Index and pathological scores, and improved intestinal morphology ( ). Both dietary groups exhibited elevated antioxidant enzyme activity and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels ( ). The modulation of Nrf2 and NF-kB–related gene expression was more pronounced in ND-fed mice. The findings suggest that this novel probiotic cocktail can effectively alleviate colitis symptoms, likely by regulating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. Its incorporation as an adjunct therapy, particularly alongside a balanced diet, may offer a promising strategy for colitis management.

Cholera epidemics due to Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor have been occurring in Iran since 1965, but the incidence of this disease has declined significantly over time. We found that multiple sublineages of the seventh pandemic V. cholerae O1 El Tor lineage have caused cholera outbreaks in Iran, suggesting recurrent introductions of the disease from South Asia into Iran.

Gut microbiota and its metabolic activities can influence the physiology and pathology of the human body. It is well established that alterations in the balance of living microbiota can contribute to various health problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune disorders. Probiotics administered in sufficient quantities as functional food ingredients provide health benefits to hosts. They help to maintain the stability and composition of the gut microbiota and provide resistance to infection by pathogens. The most important probiotic bacteria are Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacteria spp., which protect the intestine through various mechanisms such as the production of organic acids and bacteriocins. Scientific and clinical research has demonstrated that probiotics play a role in modulating immune response and preventing cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. This article summarizes the potential health benefits, antimicrobial activities, and purposes for which probiotics can be used as functional foods to improve human health.

Background: Colon microbiome composition in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoes remarkable changes. The present study was designed to assess the impact of Lactobacillus mixture on the regulating the CRC by influencing the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway in both in vitro (HT-29 cancer cells) and in vivo (BALB/c ...

Background: IBD is considered an inflammatory disease with abnormal and exaggerated immune responses. To control the symptoms, different theraputic agents could be used, however, utilizing the agents with the least side effects could be important. Probiotics as beneficial microorganisms are one of the complementory theraputic agents that could be used to modulate inflammatory signaling pathways. In the current study, we aimed to identify the precise molecular effects of potential probiotics on signaling pathways involved in the development of inflammation. Methods: A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was used to analyze the expression of JAK /STAT (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, TYK2, STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5 and STAT6) and inflammatory genes (NEMO, TIRAP, IRAK, and RIP) after the HT -29 cell line treatment with the sonicated pathogens and potential probiotics. A cytokine assay was also used to evaluate IL -6 and IL -1β production after potential probiotic treatment. Results: The potential probiotic cocktail downregulated the JAK genes and TIRAP, IRAK4, NEMO, and RIP genes in the NF-kB pathway compared with cells that were treated with sonicated gram negative pathogens. The expression of STAT genes was different after potential probiotic treatment. The production of IL -6 and IL -1β decreased after potential probiotic treatment. Conclusions: Considering the importance of controlling the symptoms of IBD to improve the life quality of the patients, using probiotic could be crucial. In the current study the studied native potential probiotic cocktails showed anti-inflammatory effects via modulation of JAK /STAT and NF-kB signaling pathways. This observation suggests that our native potential probiotics consumption could be useful in reducing intestinal inflammation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract due to altered interaction between the immune system and the gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of a probiotic cocktail in modulating immune dysregulation induced in mice. Mice were divided into 5 groups (n = 5/group), and inflammation was induced in two separate groups by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the stool of human with IBD and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). In the other two groups, the cocktail of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. (10⁸CFU/kg/day) was administered daily for a total of 28days in addition to inducing inflammation. A group as a contcxsrol group received only water and food. The alteration of the selected genera of gut microbiota and the expression of some genes involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response were studied in the probiotic-treated and untreated groups by quantitative real-time PCR. The selected genera of gut microbiota of the FMT and DSS groups showed similar patterns on day 28 after each treatment. In the probiotic-treated groups, the population of the selected genera of gut microbiota normalized and the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria increased compared to the DSS and FMT groups. The expression of genes related to immune response and tight junctions was positively affected by the probiotic. Changes in the gut microbiota could influence the inflammatory status in the gut, and probiotics as a preventive or complementary treatment could improve the well-being of patients with inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The gut microbiota is an important factor in the pathogenesis of IBD. Due to a link between the gut microbiota and IBD, studying microbiota changes using an accurate, sensitive and rapid method for detection of the disease seems necessary. ...

Objective. IBD is an inflammatory disease with abnormalities such as dysbiosis and abnormal immune system activity. Probiotics, as live beneficial microorganisms, play a role in maintaining health through various mechanisms, including the modulation of the immune system and the control of inflammation. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of a probiotic mixture of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in modulating JAK/STAT and NF-kB inflammatory signaling pathways. Method. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was conducted to analyze the expression of JAK/STAT and inflammatory genes after treatment with the probiotic mixture before, after, and simultaneously with the sonicated pathogen in the HT-29 cell line. The production of IL-6 and IL-1β after probiotic treatment was investigated via cytokine assay. Results. Treatment with probiotics resulted in downregulation of TIRAP, IRAK4, NEMO, and RIP genes in the NF-kB pathway and JAK/STAT genes compared with sonicat-treated cells as inflammation inducers. The production of IL-6 and IL-1 decreased after probiotic treatment. Conclusions. The probiotic mixture of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. showed anti-inflammatory effects by modulating JAK/STAT and NF-kB signaling pathways. The use of probiotics could be considered as an appropriate complementary treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract due to altered interaction between the immune system and the gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of a probiotic cocktail in modulating immune dysregulation induced in mice. Mice were divided into five groups (n = 5/group) and inflammation was induced by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the stool of human with IBD and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The cocktail of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. (10⁸CFU/kg/day) was administered daily for a total of 28 days. The alteration of the gut microbiota and the expression of some genes involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response were studied in the probiotic-treated and untreated groups by quantitative real-time PCR. The gut microbiota of the FMT and DSS groups showed similar patterns on day 28 after each treatment. In the probiotic-treated groups, the population of the gut microbiota normalized and, in contrast to the DSS and FMT groups, the abundance of phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria increased. The expression of genes related to immune response and tight junctions was positively affected by the probiotic. Changes in the gut microbiota could influence the inflammatory status in the gut, and probiotics as a preventive or complementary treatment could improve the well-being of patients with inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.